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Woman, Watching Kingston Launch at Cooper’s Croft Barn, May 2022
At Canada Reads, San Miguel Literary Festival, 2020
Reading from Refuge at the Whistler Writers Festival
Merilyn with her granddaughter, Myra Jaques.
Photo credit: J. Alistair Palmer
If I’m in your neighbourhood, please come join me to talk books...
The Many Astonishing Lives of Louise de Kiriline Lawrence
Brighton Public Library, 35 Alice St, Brighton, ON
Books Sales by Lighthouse Books
For more information, contact W. Greg Taylor, gtaylor@brightonlibrary.ca
The Many Astonishing Lives of Louise de Kiriline Lawrence
Canadian Club of Kingston
For more information, contact Judith Cardwell judithcardwell2003@yahoo.ca or register to attend online
The Path Through Biography, with Merilyn Simonds
www.resilientwriters.com/blog/merilynsimonds
How does one end up writing a biography?
In the case of Merilyn Simonds, she was asked to write one by her friend Louise de Kiriline Lawrence. And though Merilyn didn’t like or read biographies at the time, she agreed.
It left her with two tasks: searching through years and years of records, and figuring out how she was going to structure this biography. A conventional biography just wouldn’t do—Merilyn needed to be intrigued by the path she chose to follow in the telling of Louise’s story.
Louise de Kiriline Lawrence: A Life History
Sudbury District Branch of Ontario Ancestors / the Ontario Genealogical Society
For more information, contact Nancy Vaillancourt sudburyprogram@ogs.on.ca
Hot off the Press: Merilyn Simonds in conversation with Heather O'Neill
Kingston WritersFest
For more information, www.kingstonwritersfest.ca/festival-author/merilyn-simonds-2023/
In Conservation With… Merilyn Simonds
A live webinar with David Lindo, the Urban Birder
Join the conservation conversation:
Meeting ID: 891 3292 3345
Password: TUBW112023
Meeting Zoom Join URL - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89132923345?pwd=dkFaNE10MUN2dzI1WUF3cmlLaEk2QT09
Louise de Kiriline Lawrence: A Life History
South Adirondack Audubon Society
Bolton Landing, New York State
For more information, contact John Loz johnernest.loz@gmail.com
Bird Prose: The Art of Storytelling with Merilyn Simonds and Bob Bell, author of Out of the Lyme Light and into the Sunlight
Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, Bird Study Group
Zoom link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86797267165
The Many Astonishing Lives of Louise de Kiriline Lawrence
Fundraiser for Audubon de México
www.audubonmexico.org/merilyn-simonds-woman-watching/
Camino Sylvestre, Correo 43, San Miguel de Allende, México
250 pesos (200 peso for members)
Books available (450 pesos)
Giller Spotlight: Merilyn Simonds in Conversation with the 2022 Scotiabank Giller Award winner
San Miguel de Allende Writers’ Conference, México
Old Babes in the Woods and other stories
Merilyn Simonds in Conversation with Margaret Atwood
Hotel La Casona, Josefina Orozco 2,
San Miguel de Allende, México
Louise de Kiriline Lawrence: the Making of an Amateur Ornithologist
Hosted by Green Valley Audubon Society, Vermont
For more information, contact Bridget Butler birddiva@gmail.com
Louise de Kiriline Lawrence: A Talk with Pictures
Hosted by Midland-Penetanguishene Field Naturalists
For information contact: Ken MacDonald, Program Director/MPFN
Richmond Hill Speakers Series
richmondhillspeakerseries.ca
For more information, contact 416-822-5139
Or info@richmondhillspeakerseries.ca
A Pocketful of Patience: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence and the Legacy of Women with Birds
Markham-Unionville Canadian Federation of University Women
For more information, contact: Vicky Choy, vchoy99@gmail.com
The Many Astonishing Lives of Lousie de Kiriline Lawrence
Guest Speaker
Grey Highlands Spring Café, Kinplex, Flesherton
Contact: Jennifer Murley murleyj@greyhighlands.ca
or call the Grey Highlands Library 519-924-2241
Louise de Kiriline Lawrence: How One Woman Changed How We See Birds
Speaker, Quinte Field Naturalists Annual Fundraising Dinner
Emmanuel United Church, 458 Ashley Street, Foxboro, Ontario
For more information contact Denice Wilkins denicejohn@live.ca
Guest Speaker: A Pocketful of Patience: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence and the Legacy of Women with Birds
Speaker, Grace Morgan Annual Dinner
University Women’s Club, North York
Toronto Cricket, Skating, and Curling Club, 141 Wilson Avenue, Toronto
Tickets: $70
Contact: Marian Archbold marian.archbold@gmail.com
Louise de Kiriline Lawrence: Unsung Woman of the North
A Talk with pictures and refreshments
Callander Bay Heritage Museum
107 Lansdowne E, Callander, ON (map)
For more information, contact Natasha Watr, Museum Curator, nwiatr@callander.ca
Louise de Kiriline Lawrence: Intrepid Woman of the North
Museum of Northern History, Kirkland Lake
A Museum Fundraiser at the Sir Harry Oakes Chateau
2 Chateau Drive, Kirkland Lake ON, P2N 3M7, 705-568-8800 (map)
For more information, contact Kaitlyn McKay, Museum Manager, kaitlyn.mckay@tkl.ca
Woman, Watching: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence and the Songbirds of Pimisi Bay
The Island Talks Speakers Series
Waterside Patio Stage, Hotel Wolfe Island
For more information contact Margaret Webb margaret@margaretwebb.com
Merilyn Simonds in Conversation with Michelle Good, author of Five Little Indians
GritLit Festival, Hamilton, ON
For more information, contact GritLit www.gritlit.ca
Pelee Island Bird Observatory Gala
Beach Grove Golf & Country Club
14134 Riverside Drive East, Tecumseh, ON
Book for sale and signing.
Springsong Dinner
Pelee Island Winery, Pelee Island
Books for sale and signing
“Red-eyed Record: How Louise de Kiriline Lawrence tracked a red-eyed vireo to set a birdsong record that has never been broken.” A talk with pictures.
Nipissing Naturalists Club
For more information, contact the Nipissing Naturalists Club
Woman, Watching National Virtual Launch
“Women in Nature”—Merilyn Simonds in Conversation with Helen Humphreys
For more information, email simonds@merilynsimonds.com
Woman, Watching Kingston Launch
Coopers’ Croft Barn, 1777 Middle Road, Kingston
Refreshments, book sales, launch of video: Woman, Watching: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence & the Songbirds of Pimisi Bay.
Short talk/reading at 3:00 pm
Coopers’ Croft Barn is a newly restored 19th century barn on a 15-acre property 10 minutes from downtown Kingston, home to dozens of species of birds. The barn walls will be hung with stunning bird photographs by Richard Cooper.
For more information, email simonds@merilynsimonds.com
Politics & The Pen,
Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel, Ottawa
The Writers Trust of Canada Fundraising Reception & Dinner
For more information: www.writerstrust.com/events/politics-and-the-pen
“Louise de Kiriline Lawrence: The Making of a Mid-Century Amateur Ornithologist”
A talk with pictures.
Kingston Field Naturalists
For more information, contact Kingston Field Naturalists
Wine and Cheese Book Launch
Spring Birding Festival, Prince Edward County
Half-Moon Bay Winery
For more information, contact the Prince Edward County Bird Observatory
Perfect Books, 258 Elgin St., Ottawa, 613.231.6468
Reading and Conversation
For more information or to reserve a copy of Woman, Watching, contact info@perfectbooks.ca
“Canada’s Rachel Carson: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence and the Mid-Century Songbird Decline”
A talk with pictures.
North Durham Nature Club
Book sales by Blue Heron Books
Scugog Memorial Public Library, 231 Water St., Port Perry
For more information, contact North Durham Nature
Bonnechere Authors Festival
The Eagle’s Nest, Eganville, ON
6:30 - 7:00 Drinks & Desserts
7:00 - 8:30 Presentation on Woman, Watching
Tickets $20 - a fundraiser for Bonnechere Union Public Library
For information, call 613.628.2400 or to go facebook.com/BonnAuthorsFest
“Women Watching: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence and the Women who Changed How We Understand Birds”
Presented by Nature Canada
A Free Eventbrite event. Register here.
The Bookworm’s Women’s Voices Book Club
Edwards, Colorado
Discussion of Women, Watching with Merilyn Simonds
Tickets $5
For information go to www.bookwormofedwards.com/event/woman-watching-merilyn-simonds
Book signing and conversation
Indigo Kingston, Cataraqui Centre (945 Gardiners Road, Kingston, ON)
Merilyn Simonds, Helen Humphreys, Jill Frayne: Readings & Conversation
Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts, Parry Sound, ON
Hosted by Parry Sound Books.
“A Pocketful of Patience: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence and the women who watch birds”
Hosted by the Feminist Bird Club, Toronto Chapter
“Writing the Environment”
Merilyn Simonds (Woman, Watching) and Julia Zarankin (Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder)
Hosted by GIER Director, Dr. Madhur Anand
A Guelph Institute for Environmental Research (GIER) “Environment Bound” Event
Tickets available at edenmillswritersfestival.ca/festival-sunday-tickets »
“Citizen Science at Mid-Century: The Making of One of Canada’s Most Influential Amateur Naturalists and the Challenges Facing Women in the Field at that Time”
A talk with pictures.
Hosted by the Toronto Ornithological Club at High Park Nature Centre, 375 Colborne Lodge Dr., Toronto
For more information, contact the Toronto Ornithological Club
The Astonishing Lives of Louise de Kiriline Lawrence
Hosted by the Arts & Letters Club of Toronto, 14 Elm Street, Toronto, ON
Lunch 12 noon - 1:00 pm, talk and Q&A from 1:00 - 2:00 pm
Reading & Conversation: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence, a northern naturalist
Almonte Branch, Mississippi Mills Public Library, 155 High St, Almonte, ON
Book sales by Mill Street Books
For more information, contact crow@mississippimills.ca
Louise de Kiriline Lawrence: Never One Day Alike to Another
Keynote address, Ontario Field Ornithologists Annual Convention
at the Portuguese Club, 217 Talbot St. West, Leamington, ON
For more information, contact convention@ofo.ca
Merilyn Simonds in conversation with Eric Friesen
Kingston WritersFest, Islandview Room
Tickets available July 15 »
Whistler Writers Festival
Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Tickets on sale in August »
Saturday, October 15, 10:00 - 11:15 am PDT
Readings: Writers of Non-Fiction
with Kagan Goh, Merilyn Simonds, Debra Thompson, WIBA Winner
Saturday, October 15, 3:00 - 4:00 pm PDT
Baring the Bones - How to Make the Story Part of the Story
Writing workshop with Merilyn Simonds
Sunday, October 16, 9:00 - 10:00 am PDT
A Walk to Lost Lake, and Back Again
With Jónína Kirton, Tolu Oloruntoba and Merilyn Simonds
Includes a warming hot chocolate and tasty treat.
The Many Astonishing Lives of Louise de Kiriline Lawrence
Cataraqui Golf & Country Club (961 King St. W., Kingston, ON)
For tickets, contact 613.530.2704 (Attendees must register in advance and must prepay.)
Louise de Kiriline Lawrence: The Making of a Mid-Century Amateur Ornithologist
A talk with pictures.
Edmonton Nature Club, Edmonton, AB
Contact: Karen Lindsay, kdlinds@telus.net
Woman, Watching San Miguel de Allende Mexican Launch
Refreshments, video: Woman, Watching: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence & the Songbirds of Pimisi Bay.
Short talk/reading at 3:00 pm
Book sales to support Audubon de México
Louise de Kiriline Lawrence: The Making of a Mid-Century Amateur Ornithologist
A talk with pictures.
Macnamara Field Naturalists’ Club, Arnprior, ON
Contact: Linda Sewell, gracewood.sewell@sympatico.ca
Book sales by White Pine Books thebookshop@magma.ca
Double Date: Merilyn Simonds & Wayne Grady
This Dalhousie University Department of English reading series investigates the compelling, romantic, and perhaps at times vexing phenomenon of writers who not only make art but choose to also make a life together.
A free Zoom event.
Register here to attend: writers.ns.ca/writers-panel/double-date-simonds-grady
Women on the Edge: Merilyn Simonds & Wayne Grady
Readings from new works that explore how crisis can push a person to the margins, then further still into an unexpected life. Q&A.
Interactive pay-what-you-wish Zoom event.
Register here to attend: sanmiguelliterarysala.org/product/nov-4-2021-prose-cafe
Merilyn Simonds in Conversation with 2020 Giller nominee Emily St. John Mandel about her novel The Glass Hotel
Sign up to attend: scotiabankgillerprize.ca/book-club
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE WRITERS’ CONFERENCE
A Literary Season Online
sanmiguelwritersconference.org
Merilyn Simonds in Conversation with Souvankham Thammavongsa
Purchase recording at sanmiguelwritersconference.org/store/
SHORT STORY SPECTACULAR
Merilyn Simonds in conversation with Genni Gunn, Mary MacDonald, and Madeline Sonik
www.crowdcast.io/e/shortstories
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE WRITERS CONFERENCE
A Literary Season Online
sanmiguelwritersconference.org
Merilyn Simonds in Conversation with Margaret Atwood
Purchase recording at sanmiguelwritersconference.org/store
CANADA PERFORMS
Merilyn Simonds in Conversation with Michelle Good, author of Five Little Indians
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE WRITERS CONFERENCE
sanmiguelwritersconference.org
Thursday, February 13, 6:30 pm
Introducing Madeleine Thien's keynote address:
“Spinoza’s Rooms: Spacetime in the Imagination of the Novelist”
Thursday, February 13, 3:45 - 4:45 pm
The Americas Read: Canada
Host for readings by Angie Abdou, Myrl Coulter, Leanne Dunic, Eliza Robertson, Wayne Grady
Saturday, February 15, 1:00-2:30 pm
Global Migration, People and their Stories
Panel with Valeria Luiselli, Rosa Beltrán, Madeleine Thien, and Juan Felipe Hererra
March 19-22, 2020
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE WRITERS CONFERENCE
February 13-17, 2019
sanmiguelwritersconference.org
Thursday, February 14, 2:00 pm
Introducing Sandra Gulland’s keynote address:
“The Unexpected and Sometimes Bizarre Delights of a Literary Life”
Thursday, February 14, 3:45 - 4:45 pm
The Americas Read:
Host for readings by Kathy Page, Wayne Grady, Laurie Gough, and Merilyn Simonds
Friday, February 15, 12 - 1:00 pm
Signing and Reading with other authors in the anthology, Solamente en San Miguel
Sunday, February 17, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
PEN Panel: Writers and Freedom of Expression
With Jennifer Clement, Tony Cohan, Martín Solares, and Alicia Quinones
Moderated by Merilyn Simonds
La Huipilista Artspace
Julián Carrillo 1, San Miguel de Allende
Reading with others from the anthology, Solamente en San Miguel
Bellas Artes
San Miguel de Allende
Reading with others from the anthology, Solamente en San Miguel
Performance of Life Reflected by the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, as part of International Women’s Day
Hamilton, Ontario
www.gritlit.ca
Refuge and Reinvention
Readings and discussion with novelist Merilyn Simonds (Refuge) and memoirist Samra Zafar (A Good Wife)
Ask the Expert (Workshop)
Join Merilyn in a small-group setting as she answers your most pressing questions about writing and publishing. Participants will submit up to 3 questions in advance.
Breaking the Mould with Anne T. Donahue (Nobody Cares), Elizabeth Renzetti (Shrewed) and Jenny Yuen (Polyamorous).
Moderated by Merilyn Simonds
The National Arts Centre Orchestra performs Life Reflected in Paris, France, at La Seine Musicale
The National Arts Centre Orchestra performs Life Reflected in Gothenburg, Sweden, at the Gothenburg Concert House
Moderator: Two Authors, Two Women, Two Flights
With Cary Fagan & Howard Akler
Bellevue Ballroom, Holiday Inn,
Kingston, ON
In Conversation with Emma Donoghue
Grandview Room, Delta Hotel
Kingston, ON
El Cervantino: The Search for Sanctuary
Readings & discussion with Wayne Grady
Galería Mazahua, Casa Canadá
Guanajuato
El Cervantino: Six Impossible Things Translators Do Before Breakfast
Host of translation event with Pedro Serrano & Wayne Grady
Galería Mazahua, Casa Canadá
Guanajuato
El Cervantino: The Poet’s Eye
Host of poetry event with Steven Heighton & Pedro Serrano
Galería Mazahua, Casa Canadá
Guanajuato
El Cervantino: Giving Into Light: a tour-de-force in song, dance, and story
Host of performance event with Alison Wearing
Galería Mazahua, Casa Canadá
Guanajuato
Prose Café, Reading with Wayne Grady & Signe Hammer
Sala Literaria
Bellas Artes, San Miguel de Allende
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE WRITERS CONFERENCE
February 14-18, 2018
sanmiguelwritersconference.org
Wednesday, February 14, 3:45 - 5:15 pm
Escape from the Slavery of WORD
Introduction to Scrivener Software for Serious Writers
Intensive Workshop for all prose genres
Friday, February 16, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Writers & the Brave New World of Publishing
With Jane Friedman & Hilary Redmon
Moderated by Merilyn Simonds
Saturday, February 17, 2:30-5:30 pm
Playing in the Sandbox of the Sentence: Grammar for Writers
Intensive Workshop for all prose genres
Sunday February 18, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Blasting the Boundaries: Making the Novel Novel Again
Merilyn Simonds with Leanne Dunic and M Thomas Gammarino
An Afternoon with Merilyn Simonds
Morton Community Hall, 13 Judd Street, Morton, ON
Discussing Gutenberg’s Fingerprint
Read more »
Refuge Kingston Joint Launch with Wayne Grady
Davies Lounge, The Grand Theatre
218 Princess Street, Kingston
info@merilynsimonds.com
Reading with Heidi Sopinka, Moderator Jael Richardson
Unexpected Reunions/Vibrant Voices of Ontario
Brigantine Room, Harbourfront, Queen’s Quay
The Word on the Street
thewordonthestreet.ca/toronto
The Isle of Woman with Sandra Gulland
Kingston WritersFest
Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront
Kingston, ON
kingstonwritersfest.ca
Celebrate the Literary: Breakfast with Peter Carey in conversation with Merilyn Simonds
Kingston WritersFest
Delta Hotel Harbourview
Kingston, ON
kingstonwritersfest.ca
Merilyn Simonds & Wayne Grady:
In Conversation with Lynn Pickering of The County Writes…The County Reads (99.3 County FM)
At Books & Company Bookstore, 289 Picton Main St, Picton, ON
Upstairs in the Lipson Room
pictonbookstore.com
Whistler Writers Festival
Whistler, BC
Tickets on sale August 13
whistlerwritersfest.com
The Literary Cabaret: Reading
with Kevin Chong, Lorna Crozier, Bill Gaston, Joel Hynes & others
Maury Young Arts Centre
whistlerwritersfest.com
The First Page: Workshop
Fairmont Chateau Whistler
whistlerwritersfest.com
View the complete program for Whistler Writers Festival (PDF) »
A Walk to Lost Lake and Back: Reading with Dave Bidini, Charles Demers, Wayne Grady
Meet at 8:30 AM in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler lobby
whistlerwritersfest.com
A Couple of Writers: Merilyn Simonds &s Wayne Grady with Hal Wake
Studio 1398, Granville Island, Vancouver
Vancouver Writers Fest
writersfest.bc.ca
Parry Sound Festival of Authors
with Katherine Ashenburg, James FitzGerald, Wayne Grady, Merilyn Simonds
Charles W. Stockey Centre, Parry Sound, ON
parrysoundbooks.com
Gene deGruson Memorial Lecture
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, Kansas
www.pittstate.edu
February 18, 2017 9:00 am - 12 noon
Playing in the Sandbox of the Sentence: Grammar for Writers
Intensive Workshop for all prose genres
San Miguel de Allende Writers Conference
sanmiguelwritersconference.org
February 19, 2017 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Escape from the Slavery of WORD
Introduction to Scrivener Software for Serious Writers
Workshop for all prose genres
San Miguel de Allende Writers Conference
sanmiguelwritersconference.org
Wednesday, April 5, 2017 8:00 pm
Reading/conversation
Morrin Centre, 44, Chaussée des Écossais
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Books & Wine
Sommelier from Panache, an award-winning four-diamond restaurant and one of the best in Quebec City, pairs 4 fine wines to ImagiNation books, including Gutenberg’s Fingerprint.
Saturday April 8, 2017
12:30 - 1:30 pm Reading in the Digital Age
Art Gallery of Hamilton, 123 King St. W., Hamilton
Merilyn Simonds joins novelist/blogger Kerry Clare (Mitzi Bytes) to discuss how we enter the world of stories in the digital age. Moderated by Graham Rockingham.
Sunday April 9, 2017
10:00 am Workshop: The First Page
Art Gallery of Hamilton, 123 King St. W., Hamilton
Merilyn Simonds looks at the all-important first page and how to draw readers into your story from the very first line.
4:30 pm Drafts & Drafts
Mills Hardware, Hamilton (directions)
Festival authors Shari Lapeña, Merilyn Simonds and Marnie Woodrow join three local writers for a beer and a reading from their latest works-in-progress.
Hosted by CHCH TV Anchor, Annette Hamm
Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 7-9 pm
Kingston Launch of Gutenberg’s Fingerprint
Davies Lounge, Grand Theatre, 218 Princess Street
Free. Everyone welcome!
Refreshments. Book chat.
Saturday, April 22, 2017
1:30 pm Reading/conversation with Tom Rand
Books & Company Bookstore, 33 Bridge Street, Picton
6:00 pm Novels & Nosh, Fundraising dinner for Prince Edward Learning Centre
Chef Michael Hoy Cullinary, 106 Bridge St, Picton
Wednesday April 26, 2017
6:00 pm Gutenberg’s Fingerprint presentation
Aberdeen Cultural Centre
Thursday April 27, 2017
5:30 pm Onstage interview with Madeleine Thien
Aberdeen Cultural Centre
Friday April 28, 2017
12 noon Workshop: Writing from Life
Moncton Public Library
April 29, 2017
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Join Hugh Barclay for the BookArts launch of Gutenberg’s Fingerprint
Wayzgoose BookArts Fair in Grimsby, Ontario
April 29, 2017
9:30 - 11:00 am
Authors for Indies Day, Charlottetown, PEI
Join Merilyn at Bookmark Bookstore, 172 Queen
1:00 pm
Authors & Illustrators Festival, Charlottetown, PEI
Murphy’s Community Centre, Free
Reading, Writing, & the Arithmetic of Future Books
Is the paper book dead? Or is it back? How exactly are people reading? And what does it all mean for writers? Merilyn Simonds makes sense of the headlines and reveals the truth about how reading and writing continue to evolve in the digital age.
Wednesday, May 3, 7:30 pm
Readingtown Lecture
Back to the Future of Books
at Rodd Charlottetown Hotel
Free to the public
Thursday, May 4, 7:30 pm
Bookmark Reading
Scotiabank Auditorium, Marion McCain ARts & Social Sciences Building
Dalhousie University, 6135 University Ave, Halifax
May 10, 2017
Toronto Launch of Gutenberg’s Fingerprint
Ben McNally Books
366 Bay Street. Everyone welcome.
June 2-4, 2017
Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story
Wingham, ON
Saturday, June 3 10:45 - 12:15 pm
Readings - Merilyn Simonds & Marni Jackson
Wingham Town Hall
Saturday, June 3 12:15 - 1:30 pm
Merilyn Simonds, judge of the Alice Munro Short Story Contest, awards prizes to adult & youth winners
Saturday, June 3 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Masterclass: The First Page
Alice Munro Library (Wingham)
Sunday, June 4 11:00 - 1:00 pm
Books & Brunch
The Livery, Goodrich
Moderator for short story faces past & present
June 18, 2017
Luminato
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front St. East, Toronto
5:30 - 6:15 pm
Pre-performance panel discussion with creative director Donna Feore, composers Jocelyn Morlock & Nicole Lizee, Carol Todd (mother of Amanda Todd), and Anne Joe (daughter of poet Rita Joe). Moderated by CBC host Heather Hiscox.
7:00 pm
NACO Performance of Life Reflected, musical portraits by Canadian composers of four exceptional Canadian women
Foundational text for “Dear Life” adapted from the Alice Munro story by Merilyn Simonds
July 26, 2017, 7:30 pm
Bonnechere Authors’ Festival
St. James Church, 78 Wellington Street, Eganville
Stories, Conversation & Dessert
@BonnAuthorsFest
September 10, 2017 2:00 - 3:30 pm
Goodes Hall, Queen’s University Campus
QUILL Queen’s University Lifelong Learning
Back to the Future of Books: Reading & Talk
www.quillkingston.org
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Algonquin College Speaker Series
“Stories from Canada’s Most Notorious and Historic Prison”
Waterfront Campus, 1 College Way, Pembroke, Ontario
Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door
KINGSTON WRITERSFEST
September 27-October 1, 2017
www.kingstonwritersfest.ca
Friday, September 29 3:00 - 5:30 pm
Writers’ Studio Master Class - Writing the First Page
Saturday, September 30, 11:00 am - noon
Unveiling of Project Bookmark Canada plaque honouring The Convict Lover
12:15 - 1:00 pm
The Prisoner’s Walk tour of Portsmouth Village with readings by Merilyn Simonds
Sunday, October 1, 9:00 - 10:00 am
Paper, Pen and Pixels: Memoir
Merilyn Simonds interviewed by Diane Schoemperlen
Wednesday, October 11, 7:00-9:00 pm
Merilyn Simonds & Wayne Grady: Authors Talk Editing
Kingston Editors Association
Ongwanada Resource Centre, 191 Portsmouth Ave.
Free
LITFEST, EDMONTON’S NONFICTION FESTIVAL
October 12-22, 2017
litfestalberta.org
Saturday, October 14, 2:00 pm
The Truth (About Books) with Elaine Dewar and Merilyn Simonds
Contemporary book culture in Canada and around the world
Sunday, October 15, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Workshop: How to Write A killer (Nonfiction) Book Proposal
VANCOUVER WRITERS FESTIVAL
October 16-27, 2017
writersfest.bc.ca/content/2017-dates
Tuesday, October 17, 6:00 pm
Modern Satire with Suzette Mayr, Pola Oloixarac and Tom Perrotta
Moderator: Merilyn Simonds
Tuesday, October 17, 8:30 pm
Apples, Birds, & Books with Kyo Maclear, Helen Humphreys and Merilyn Simonds
Friday, October 20, 10:00 am
Writing Canada (1) Angie Abdou, Fanny Britt (QC), Maia Caron (SK) and Kevin Hardcastle
Moderator: Merilyn Simonds
Sunday, October 22, 11:00 am
Books and Brunch reading with John Boyne, Claire Cameron, Karen Connelly, Nathan Englander, Merilyn Simonds & Deborah Willis
SUDBURY WORDSTOCK LITERARY FESTIVAL
November 3-5, 2017
www.wordstocksudbury.ca
Tuesday, November 7, 6:30 pm
Writers’ Trust Gala
Ritz-Carleton, Toronto
November 11, 2017
The World Remembers: an Evening for Peace
7:30 pm Isabel Bader Centre
Digging Roots trio, Geoff Hodgetts, ISKA youth refugee stories, and both the Cantabile Choir and Open Voices
Hosted by Merilyn Simonds
December 14, 2017 5:00 - 7:00 pm
San Miguel Literary Sala
Back to the Future of Books
Complimentary wine reception
Hotel de La Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio #15
www.sanmiguelliterarysala.org
September 20, 2016, 7:00 pm
Finding The Convict Lover
Talk with readings
The Lennox and Addington County Museum and Archives
97 Thomas St. E., Napanee, ON
www.lennox-addington.on.ca/must-see/l-a-museum-archives.html
September 28, 2016, 6:30 - 7:00 pm
Loving the Bad Boy: A Story of Prison Romance
Merilyn Simonds in conversation with Diane Schoemperlen
Kingston Writersfest
Islandview Room, Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront
www.kingstonwritersfest.ca
September 30, 2016, 4:30 - 5:30 pm
The Garden and the River: Meditations on Landscape
Merilyn Simonds in conversation with Helen Humphreys & Alexandra Risen
Kingston Writersfest
Bellevue Room, Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront
www.kingstonwritersfest.ca
February 18-March 6, 2016
World premiere of the play “Hot House” by Judith Thompson, inspired by The Convict Lover
Theatre Kingston
Kingston, ON
www.theisabel.ca/content/hothouse
March 2016
Release of the Cambridge Companion to Alice Munro, edited by David Staines, including an essay by Merilyn Simonds “Where do you Think you Are?: Place in the Stories of Alice Munro.’
April 30, 2016
Panelist, Artistic collaborations and their impact
Orchestras Canada National Conference
Kitchener, ON
June 2-5, 2016
Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story
Wingham, ON
alicemunrofestival.ca
July 18-28, 2016
Writing the Daredevil Draft
Sage Hill Writing Experience
www.sagehillwriting.ca
September 20, 2016
Finding The Convict Lover
Lennox and Addington County Museum and Archives
Napanee, ON
lennox-addington.on.ca/must-see/l-a-museum-archives.html
September 28-30, 2016
Kingston WritersFest
Kingston, ON
kingstonwritersfest.ca
February 11-12, 2015
Creative Crossroads Literary Festival
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
sanmiguelwritersconference.org
May 2, 2015
Keynote Speaker, District 3 Horticultural Societies
Bath, ON
June 5-7, 2015
Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story
Wingham, Ontario
alicemunrofestival.ca
June 16, 2015
Smith Falls Horticultural Society
Smith Falls, ON
July 20-30, 2015
Sage Hill Writing Experience
Blackstrap, Saskatchewan
sagehillwriting.ca
August 21-23, 2015
Framework
Perth, ON
fieldworkproject.com
September 16-17, 2015
Reflections of Childhood: Dear Life
National arts Centre Orchestra,
World premier of my adaptation of the Alice Munro story “Dear Life’ for symphony nac-cna.ca/en/event/11241
September 27, 2015
Kingston WritersFest
Kingston, ON
kingstonwritersfest.ca
October 16-18, 2015
Whistler Readers & Writers Festival
Whistler, BC
whistlerwritersfest.com
October 20-25, 2015
Vancouver International WritersFest
Vancouver, BC
writersfest.bc.ca
April 2, 2014
Politics & the Pen
Ottawa, ON
April 5, 2014
Keynote Speaker, District 2 Horticultural Societies
Perth, ON
April 24-27, 2014
Frye Festival
Moncton, New Brunswick
frye.ca
July 17-20, 2014
Saskatchewan Festival of Words
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
festivalofwords.com
July 21-31, 2014
Sage Hill Writing Experience
Blackstrap, Saskatchewan
sagehillwriting.ca
September 27-28, 2014
Kingston WritersFest
Kingston, ON
kingstonwritersfest.ca
Saturday, October 18, 2014
StoryFest
Hudson, Quebec
greenwood-centre-hudson.org/storyfest.html
